Managers who work in small corporations and companies must have people management skills to effectively perform their jobs. Most companies use a hierarchical organization structure that requires managers or supervisors to oversee the work of others. Hence, these managers must oversee and coordinate the work of others to complete various projects. People management skills can include communication, leadership, delegation, motivation, training and even performance feedback.

Communication

One important people management skill is communication. Managers of small companies must know how to effectively communicate with employees to let them know what they expect from them on the job. Often, managers conduct one-on-one or even group meetings to keep employees apprised of certain projects or management decisions. Managers also communicate with their employees through status reports. In addition, management employees should know how to listen to employees, as some workers may have suggestions on performing tasks more efficiently. Employees may also have personal problems, where a manager may need to give a worker time off when needed.

Training

Training is particularly important for new employees. Managers train employees directly, have experienced coworkers train them or coordinate an employee's offsite classroom training. Whatever the case, a manager needs to recognize an employee's skills and determine what training the worker needs to effectively perform his job.

Delegating

People management skills also include delegating. Managers usually have numerous projects to complete, and there are specific deadlines for these projects. Because managers in small companies cannot do all the work themselves, they need to delegate or assign tasks to other workers. The manager then holds each worker accountable for completing their tasks before the project deadline. Managers must know the right employee to whom to delegate a specific task, according to the article titled "Free Basic Guide to Leadership and Supervision" on the Free Management Library website. In other words, managers should assign tasks to employees based on their abilities and strengths. That way managers can be more confident that the work will be completed correctly.

Motivating

People management skills also include motivation, which is getting employees to have more excitement about performing their jobs. An effective manager knows that different things motivate employees. Some employees prefer closer supervision. Other employees prefer to be challenged in their jobs, desiring to take on more responsibility. Managers can often learn what best motivates employees by discussing their personal goals with them. Managers can then start helping them achieve these goals by assigning projects that best utilizes their creativity.

Performance Feedback

All managers must provide performance feedback to their workers. The formal way of conducting performance feedback is a performance appraisal. A performance appraisal is a half hour or hour session where the manager reviews an employee's work over the past six to 12 months. She may explain what tasks the worker performs well and areas where he needs improvement. Effective managers will not just evaluate an employee's work. They will write a development plan for the employee to help improve his performance.